Pace gurus speak - Issues with the modern day fast bowlers

Hadlee : We bowled and bowled and bowled. We ran. We did not use the gym as much as they do today. You have computers telling you what you are doing right, what you are doing wrong. Those tools are useful to have, but sometimes simplicity is the best way to go.

Roberts : The teachers who turn into coaches, coming in with their scientific approach to fast bowling, are causing the decline of fast bowling. They are literally changing a fast bowler's action, from using the body to using shoulders. You cannot bowl fast for long with your shoulder. I am not against the biomechanics, but bowlers are being over-coached and the coaches are coaching the wrong way.

A lot of important issues touched upon there by the great pacemen. Your thoughts, forumers?

Andy Zaltzman on Ravi Shastri: "A genuine dullness all-rounder. Scored and conceded runs at little more than 2 per over. If he could have bowled at himself, cricket would have died."

Slightly related, I read something which said that hi-tech cushioned bowling boots are actually increasing the frequency of ankle and foot injury by weakening the various muscles and tendons due to their relative lack of use.

Originally Posted by Jimmy Neesham

Root always sets up the innings well. It's nice having BJ down the order to finish the innings off.

Andy Roberts had some interesting stuff to say. Also I think Clive Rice or somebody mentioned how the workload in the country circuit used to be so high even in those days

And smalishah's avatar is the most classy one by far Jan certainly echoes the sentiments of CW

Yeah we don't crap in the first world; most of us would actually have no idea what that was emanating from Ajmal's backside. Why isn't it roses and rainbows like what happens here? PEWS's retort to Ganeshran on Daemon's picture depicting Ajmal's excreta

While interesting to hear from them, I don't really think they have any special insights to offer. I would be more interested in hearing from someone trained in bio-mechanics in regards to injuries. They might have something more than an educated guess to offer.

I think the key is finding the right balance. That's what the greats mention in the article too.

I can't really see an issue of balance. There is no real downside to understanding how stresses affect the body and studying to find out what makes a bowling action effective. You do get the occasional case where a bowler changes his action for health reasons and it makes him less effective, I guess.

The real problem, I suspect, is that it is all applied rather half-heartedly at the moment. Sports like running and swimming show the real benefits of bio-mechanics applied properly.